India, South Africa play out shortest-ever Test in 147-year history

India won the Newlands Test by seven wickets to draw the series 1-1 but in the process surpassed their own record, which earlier stood at 842 balls against England in 2021.

The 2nd Test match between India and South Africa in Cape Town ended in all but 107 overs (642 balls), making it the shortest ever in history.

The Test match in which a plethora of records were broken ended with probably one of the biggest records of all time.

South Africa batted twice on the same day, on which a cracking 23 wickets fell. And another 10 perished on Day 2 before India chased down 79 to pick up their first Test win at the venue, on their 9th tour of South Africa.

Hoping to draw only their second-ever Test series in South Africa, India pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah produced memorable spells of bowling inside two days with both pacers picking up six-wicket-hauls. 23 wickets fell on the first day, and another 10 on the second as India picked up a 7-wicket win – their first in Newlands, Cape Town to begin the new year 2024 on a high.

Aiden Markram scored a brilliant century but it was in vain as India overcame a disastrous period of 0/6 in the first innings.

The second-shortest Test match was between Australia and South Africa at the MCG, which lasted 656 balls. And it saw South Africa record their lowest ever Test total of 36 all out in 23.2 overs. South Africa batted first but Bert Ironmonger took insane figures of 5/6. Australia replied by putting up 153 in 54.3 overs, before South Africa were bundled out again for 45 in 31.3 overs - their fragile batting crumbled to a combined total of 81 across both innings. The dominant performance secured Australia a convincing win by an innings and 72 runs.